Editor’s note: This is the second of two stories to preview today’s UIL reclassification and realignment announcement. Today’s story focuses on the area schools.

Andrews athletic director and head football coach Ralph Mason knows exactly what movie character Forrest Gump meant when he said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”

That quote can easily describe what coaches and school administrators go through every two years when the University Scholastic League announces its reclassification and realignment.

At 9 a.m. today when the announcement is made, Mason won’t be surprised if there are a few surprises.

And whatever is announced, it won’t be as big of a shock for Mason as it was two years ago when Andrews was sent far west in a district with El Paso County schools Clint, Mountain View, San Elizario and Tornillo for football.

It’s likely that Andrews will stay with the same group again for the next two years because of similar Class 4A Division I enrollments.

“I don’t know if it really matters where we go,” Mason said. “Obviously the UIL has to pair us up with similar size schools, which makes it difficult because they either have to send us all the way to Pampa or stay with Clint and those schools.”

Mason said his football team only had two make two trips a year to play El Paso County schools, and in addition to transportation costs, the school district only had to pay for one extra meal for the student athletes each trip.

“It wasn’t anything overbearing,” Mason said.

While Andrews had to go make trips to far east El Paso County, Forsan had to go even farther to play Anthony, along the Texas-New Mexico border in north El Paso County to play a District 3-2A Division I game.

Forsan athletic director and head football coach Jason Phillips said his team tried to make the most out of the 380-mile one-way trip.

“It was kind of fun going out there and we took our time,” Phillips said. “I have to admit that it took a couple of days to get over that bus ride. But financially, it wasn’t too bad. Luckily our booster club raised enough money to charter a bus for us.”

Phillips added that he won’t be surprised wherever Forsan ends up as the Buffaloes have never been in the same football district two realignments in a row.

Big Spring Superintendent Chris Wigington said his school could go anywhere as well.

But no matter where Big Spring ends up, BSISD administrators know that the district will be highly competitive.

“We’ve been in a very tough district over the last two years and it’s been a bloodbath every night,” said Wigington referring to District 2-4A Division I with Abilene Wylie, Brownwood, Snyder and Stephenville. “If we’re in the same district, we’ll just line up and play them again. It would be the same if we go out west, north or wherever.”

Stanton and Coahoma are likely to have different opponents next season. Instead of facing Ballinger, Coleman, Colorado City and Post, it is possible they could be with Alpine, Sonora, San Angelo TLC and Reagan County to form District 4-3A Division I, according to some forecasts.

“You just never how it’s going to shake out,” Coahoma athletic director and head football coach Fred Dietz said. “You just have to prepare for any situation and adjust when the announcement comes.”

Greenwood is one that doesn’t expect big changes on Monday.

Early prognostications has Greenwood staying with Monahans, Fort Stockton, Pecos and Lamesa. And depending on who you talk to, either Sweetwater or Seminole could join them in possibly District 2-4A Division II.